"Go Pig Or Go Home!" Is This Sunday at a New Venue

Houston’s popular suckling pig chef competition returns this Sunday. The throwdown is scheduled for Sunday, September 20, from 4 to 7 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets are $88 and include admission, unlimited food samples and beer from 8th Wonder. There are some still available at the Go Pig Or Go Home! web site.

For the past three years, the event has been held at Kata Robata, but this year it is being held at 8th Wonder at 2202 Dallas. General Manager Blake Lewis had this to say about the venue change:

“Go Pig or Go Home was a unique culinary event started at Kata Robata three years ago. Its success was amazing and the following it built was exciting. However, at the end of the event last year, we at Kata felt it had reached capacity for the space and that threatened the spontaneity and spirit of the gathering. Go Pig is now at a new location as a new event with new organizers. We wish them well as we at Kata look for innovative and fresh ways to enjoy our fans and the city’s culinary community."

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The new host, 8th Wonder, has selected OpHeart as this year's charity beneficiary, and it will receive a portion of the event proceeds. OpHeart supports pediatric cardiac care by providing revolutionary 3-D printed versions of infants’ hearts to doctors in advance of surgery. The doctors are able to study and work on these exact-replica “practice hearts” before performing surgery on their patients.

There's no shortage of talented chefs to compete this year. Here's the list:

John Avila, Black Hill Meats ranch

David Cordua, Cordua Restaurants

Robert Del Grande, RDG Bar Annie

Jason Gould, Cyclone Anaya’s

Jonathan Jones, El Big Bad

Jose Hernandez, Radio Milano

Ryan Hildebrand, Triniti

Richard Kaplan, Weights + Measures

Peter Laufer, Royal Sonesta Hotel

Vidal Elias Murillo, La Fisheria Downtown

Greg Lowry, Bradley’s Fine Diner and Pour Society

Matt Marcus, Eatsie Boys

Rebecca Masson, Fluff Bake Bar

Alex Padilla, Original Ninfa's on Navigation

Omar Pereney, Peska

Monica Pope, Sparrow Bar + Cookshop

Arnaldo Richards, Pico's Mex Mex

Micah Rideout, Tarakaan

Randy Rucker, Bramble

Justin Turner, Bernie's Burger Bus

William Wright, Helen Greek Food and Wine

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Houston's most musical food fan, Bun B, is helping judge the competition this year. Joining him are past winning chefs Ronnie Killen of Killen’s Steakhouse and Killen’s Barbecue, and Michael Pellegrino of MAX’s Wine Dive and Añejo Tex-Mex. Brian Ching, former Houston Dynamo star and current managing director of professional women’s soccer team the Houston Dash, will be lending his tastebuds to the challenge, as will KHOU Channel 11 morning anchor Lily Jang.

Attendees will have their own chance to vote a winner for the People’s Choice award. Live music will be by Houston alternative band Potbelly.

The winning chef will be awarded a full-size champion title belt and while the winner can wear it if he or she wants, chances are it will be more appropriate as an impressive trophy to hang in that person's restaurant.

Best of all, there will be roasted pork, beer and lots of good-hearted chefs ready to compete, raise money for charity and have a good time in the process.

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